Removable enclosure for rear of vehicle

Abstract

The removable enclosure for the rear of a vehicle provides additional storage space or cover for the open rear end of a vehicle, such as an open tailgate of a pickup truck or the open hatch of an SUV. The removable enclosure includes a housing having at least one sidewall and an upper wall defining an open lower end and an open front end. An internal frame is disposed within and supports the housing. The internal frame includes at least one elastic cord extending laterally across the housing. A pair of laterally opposed diagonal supports each extend from an upper edge of the front end of the housing to a lower edge of a rear face of the at least one sidewall. The at least one elastic cord is secured to, and extends between, the pair of laterally opposed diagonal supports.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61 / 335,326, filed Jan. 4, 2010; Ser. No. 61 / 283,237, filed Nov. 30, 2009; Ser. No. 61 / 217,216, filed May 27, 2009; Ser. No. 61 / 215,669, filed May 8, 2009; and 61 / 215,059, filed May 1, 2009.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention relates to vehicle accessories and to portable enclosures, and particularly to a removable enclosure for the rear of a vehicle that provides additional storage space or cover for the open rear end of a vehicle, such as an open tailgate of a pickup truck, the open hatch of a sports utility vehicle or the like.[0004]2. Description of the Related Art[0005]Although enclosures for the bed of a pickup truck and the like are known, most such enclosures, particularly those adapted for providing temporary shelter while camping, are heavy rigid structures that are semi-permanently attached to the ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention is a removable enclosure for the rear of a vehicle that provides additional storage space or cover for the open rear end of a vehicle. The enclosure includes a housing with at least one sidewall and an upper wall, and a flap formed in the upper wall. The housing has an open lower end and an open front end. The flap has a storage pocket and a slit through the sidewall. The flap and slit are releasably sealed by a releasable fastener. The enclosure also has an internal frame with elastic cords and diagonal supports. A resilient member made of foam or the like may be mounted on the front, upper portion of the internal frame. The enclosure can be secured to the rear end of a vehicle using hook members and brackets. The technical effects of the invention include providing additional storage space and protection for the open rear end of a vehicle, and improving the appearance of the vehicle's rear end."

Problems solved by technology

Thus, conversion between normal usage of the truck for transport of loads and the like and the shelter is inconvenient to the user.

Such structures are also difficult to separately transport and store.

However, such rigid enclosures are extremely heavy, difficult to install on a pickup truck, difficult to remove from a pickup truck, and are relatively expensive.

Similarly, a utility enclosure is quite heavy, and once it is inserted into the bed, it is likely that it will not be removed therefrom without there being a specific need to use the truck with its bed exposed.

Typically, these tents are limited in size to the length of the cargo box when the tailgate is in the vertical, or closed, position.

Such tents are quite complex and require a substantial amount of time and effort to erect.

Moreover, these tents tend to become quite hot in direct sunlight and do not provide adequate shelter from rain and wind.

Further, these tents do not provide adequate storage space.

With conventional tent camper arrangements, there have been some problems with accommodating the tailgate.

Such systems may be relatively expensive, difficult to assemble or disassemble, may require special modifications to the truck, truck frame or body, and may be unattractive.

Another problem with such systems has been the general failure to provide an appropriate anchor point for securing the tent covering and frame.

In conventional tent camper arrangements mounted upon truck beds, however, generally such guy-lines and stakes are undesired as they inhibit the ability to move the vehicle, even slightly, with the camper erected and, further, they prevent the camper unit from being used over hard surfaces, such as pavement, asphalt or firmly graded ground, where the driving of stakes would be difficult if not impossible.

Generally, in the past, this has necessitated the development of complex frame systems, for use with such trucks, which are free standing in that they do not use guy-lines either attached directly to the frame or on the tent covering over the frame, for secure erection.

Even conventional tent camper systems that have enclosed the tailgate therein have generally failed to utilize the tailgate as a laterally extended anchor point serving as a substitute for a guy-line and stake.

However, such devices are typically difficult to transport and store, provide less than adequate protection from adverse weather conditions, are not easily installed on the vehicle, and require both modifications and additions to the vehicle.

Additionally, such systems are not well adapted for multiple uses.

For example, a tent designed for connection to a pickup truck typically is designed for single-person usage in a single environment, and could not be easily adapted to, for example, ice fishing or for providing protection for a dog.

Additionally, such systems do not provide multiple functionality, being used for both storage and as an enclosure.

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